(CNN) - The CNN Political Ticker is live blogging the CNN Arizona Republican Presidential Debate in Mesa. Check here for live updates throughout the event and be sure to follow @PoliticalTicker, @CNNPolitics and use #CNNDebate.

10:11 p.m. ET - Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer tells Borger the debate made it harder for her to choose a candidate to endorse. She said Gingrich's answer on immigration was strong, particularly his pledge to work with governors of border states.

10:09 p.m. ET - Watch CNN National Political Correspondent Jim Acosta in the post-debate spin room here.10:06 p.m. ET - Ron Paul told King his foreign policy was "definitely a different policy" from his competitors. "I'd say the young people who come to see me, that's their biggest issue, war and spending."

10:04 p.m. ET - Ron Paul to John King: "When I'm polling against the Democrats and independents, I do better than the rest, and the Republican party claims they want somebody to win."

9:58 p.m. ET - CNN Chief Political Analyst Gloria Borger asked Santorum about his attacks on Romney centering on earmarks: "I think the governor is just misinformed, and just making points that are falling flat."

9:56 p.m. ET - John King closed the debate and said goodnight.
9:51 p.m. ET - Question to the candidates about the biggest misconception about them as candidates.

Paul said the biggest misconception was that he couldn't win a general election against President Obama.

Gingrich wanted people to know the work he put in on welfare reform and balanced budget as House speaker.

Romney said he had the background and skills to be president, but did not offer a misconception he thought voters held about him.

Santorum also did not offer a misconception but said he was the candidate best positioned to win against President Obama.

9:49 p.m. ET - Read a transcript from the first part of tonight's debate here.

9:44 p.m. ET - Romney cited the strong performance of schools in Massachusetts during his tenure as governor, and said teachers' unions had too much power over education policy. Said kids needed to be put ahead of unions.

Gingrich echoed Romney's criticism of teachers' unions, saying power needed to be invested back into local districts and parents. Said too much attention had been paid on teaching "self esteem."

9:42 p.m. – @PeterHambyCNN: Santorum on national TV just now: I voted for something I didn't believe in for nakedly political purposes

9:42 p.m. ET - Question from the audience about the education law No Child Left Behind
9:39 p.m. ET - Gingrich said he would create a new American energy policy that would reduce dependence on oil from the Middle East.

Romney said America needs to work with allies in the region to force Syrian President Assad to step down.

9:37 p.m. ET - Question about how candidates would deal with Syria.

Santorum said Syria was a puppet of Iran, and a destabilizing force in the region. Said Obama's dealing with Syria revealed a "timidness" that is also evident in his dealing on Iran.

9:34 p.m. ET - Paul took a markedly different stance on Iran, saying there was no proof yet they had nuclear weapons. Said he didn't want Iran to have nuclear weapons, but that American involvement needed to be taken with care and under Constitutional guidelines.

9:33 p.m. ET - Santorum said he agreed with Romney, and reiterated the stand that Iran must not develop nuclear weapons. Noted a bill he sponsored in the Senate that would have imposed sanctions on Iran.

9:31 p.m. ET - Romney said President Obama's dealing of Iran was his "most serious failure." Said military options should not just be on the table, but should be in the hand.

9:30 p.m. ET - Gingrich said he would be willing to use American military force to preempt a strike on Israel from Iran. He said, "You have an absolute moral obligation to defend the lives of your people by eliminating the capacity to get nuclear weapons."

9:26 p.m. ET - Question from the audience: How would you deal with the possibility of Iran developing a nuclear weapon?

9:25 p.m. ET - Paul struck on his anti-war platform, saying the men didn't need to be serving in Afghanistan, much less women.

Santorum said we needed to reexamine the best roles for anyone serving in combat.

9:19 p.m. ET - Read a transcript from the first part of tonight's debate here.

9:12 p.m. ET – Candidates were asked about Florida Sen. Marco Rubio's statement that some conservative rhetoric on immigration is "harsh" and "intolerable."

Gingrich said he couldn't be sure what comments Rubio were talking about but slammed President Obama for a speech he made in El Paso that Gingrich called "totally demagogic."

9:11 p.m. ET - Romney said he advocated an e-verify system and said he would complete a border fence. Romney said he would drop federal lawsuits against states with tough immigration laws.
9:09 p.m. ET - Gingrich said he supported building a fence along America's southern border. Said he would move Department of Homeland Security personnel from Washington to border states like Arizona and Texas.

9:07 p.m. ET - Paul said more needed to be done to secure the border and enforce current immigration laws. Said President Obama had failed to enforce laws, leading to increased illegal immigration.

Latinos make up 29.6% of Arizona's population, and are an important - and growing - voting bloc in the state. In the 2008 general election, Latinos constituted 16% of the electorate, up from 12% in 2004.

In 2008, Latinos favored Barack Obama over John McCain by 15 points, 56% to 41%.

9:03 p.m. ET - Romney defended his tenure as governor, saying he balanced the budget even after his health care law went into effect. Santorum hit back, saying it was his job to balance the budget and it wasn't a legitimate achievement to campaign on.

9:01 p.m. ET - Santorum went after Romney for his Massachusetts health care plan, saying it was a model for Obamacare.
8:59 p.m. ET - Romney hit Santorum for voting for Title X, which included provisions for family planning. Santorum said he voted for it because it was a large appropriation bill but that he opposed the contraception measures.

8:57 p.m. ET - Gingrich said Romney refused to exempt religious institutions from a requirement to provide health insurance coverage for contraception during his time as Massachusetts governor, saying "When you have government as the central provider of services, you inevitably move towards tyranny because the government has the power of force."

8:38 p.m. ET - Santorum said the government effectively shut down the airline industry after 9/11, but that the auto industry wasn't shut down by the government. Said the comparison was apples to oranges.

8:37 p.m. ET - Romney said he thought companies needed to enter a managed bankruptcy process in order to best recover. Said he supported the airline bailout after September 11, just like Santorum.
8:35 p.m. ET – Santorum said he thought market forces should have been allowed to determine the fate of the auto industry. Slammed Romney for his position on government bailouts, saying "I beleive in markets, not just when they're convenient to me."

8:34 p.m. ET - Question from CNNPolitics.com: Why was former President George W. Bush wrong in his efforts to save the auto industry and why was Barack Obama wrong to continue the effort?

8:32 p.m. ET - Paul said Congress has become irresponsible in spending money by attaching funding measures to unrelated bills. Said it was the responsibility of members of Congress to vote against spending bills they don't support.

8:28 p.m. ET - Romney mocked Santorum, said he didn't follow his last answer. Said he would ban earmarks altogether and that Santorum voted for the 'bridge to nowhere.'

8:26 p.m. ET - Santorum asked if there were any earmarks he regrets making during his time in Congress. Said there were always votes former senators regret, but that some of the spending he secured was good for his state. Said the system was broken.

8:24 p.m. ET - Gingrich said Romney had taken the right step today in his tax reform plan.

8:23 p.m. ET – @AriFleischer: The fact that Romney hasn't repeated his line about being a "severe" conservative tells u he shouldn't have said it the 1st time.

8:22 p.m. ET - Asked about his statement he was a "severely conservative" governor of Massachusetts, Romney said he was severe and strict. He noted his balanced budgets and tough immigration laws.

8:20 p.m. ET - Santorum defended his votes in Congress, saying he was voted the most fiscally conservative member of Congress and that his voted to reign in entitlements were risky politically.

8:19 p.m. ET - Paul continued to hit Santorum: "I find it really fascinating that when people are running for office they're really fiscally conservative. When they're in office, they do something different."

8:17 p.m. ET – @EWErickson: Ron Paul sitting next to Santorum. A bit awkward. But Ron Paul does it with a humor Santorum has trouble mustering. #CNNDebate

8:17 p.m. ET - Asked about his criticism of Santorum as a "fake," Ron Paul says: "He is a fake!" Santorum, seated next to Paul, said "I'm real, I'm real!"

8:15 p.m. ET - Answering the question about the national debt, Gingrich pointed to his record of balanced budgets as House speaker. Said the debt would never go down if the unemployment rate doesn't improve.

8:13 p.m. ET – @jimacostacnn: Santorum points out Romney was asked about raising debt ceiling earlier this summer and he said he would.

8:13 p.m. ET - After criticism from Romney, Santorum defended his record on spending votes during his time in the Senate. Said he took on entitlements and never voted to raise taxes. Santorum hit back at Romney by saying he raised taxes as governor of Massachusetts.

8:12 p.m. ET - Romney said he would go through the federal budget and find programs that weren't worth borrowing money from China to fund.

8:09 p.m. ET - Santorum said we need to reduce spending on entitlements, and repeal Obamacare. He said, "If you think defense spending is the problem you need a remedial math class."

8:08 p.m. ET - Question from audience: What would you do to bring down the national debt?

Paul: I am the defender of the Constitution, the defender of liberty.
Santorum: Here to talk about a positive solution to country's problems.
Romney: I want to restore America's promise.
Gingrich: I've developed a program for American energy.

8:05 p.m. ET - Camera panned across candidates during the National Anthem. Romney and Santorum were voicing the words.

8:04 p.m. ET - The Arizona State University Symphonic Chorale sang the National Anthem.

8:03 p.m. ET - John King introduced the candidates onto the debate stage.

8:01 p.m. ET - Watch the video open to tonight's debate here:

8:00 p.m. ET - John King opened the CNN Arizona Republican Presidential Debate.

6:30 p.m. ET – From @StreitfeldCNN: Mitt Romney relaxed by the pool at his Mesa hotel this afternoon, turning his face to the sun as he lay back on a pool chair. He was joined by his son Craig and his family, who went swimming. Romney wore a button-down shirt and slacks at the pool.

soundoff(1,144 Responses)

PTC Bernie

Ron Paul = Neville Chamberlain

February 22, 2012 09:45 pm at 9:45 pm |

Frances

To all four candidates – No child left behind has dumbed down the education system to assist those who cannot perform at hire levels graduate, compromising the education of those who can. Obama has taken some states out of the requirement. What is your position and will you keep this move in place.

February 22, 2012 09:45 pm at 9:45 pm |

JAN H

My wife and son (both independent and undecided)said that they would NEVER vote for Santorum...if he is the GOP nominee, Obama and the Dems will sweep in 2012.

February 22, 2012 09:45 pm at 9:45 pm |

Nate Heffner

To all debaters, I am in college working hard to get a degree and a good paying job. Why should I pay for others, who dropped out due to lack of effort, to have a free ride on welfare payed for by the government?

February 22, 2012 09:45 pm at 9:45 pm |

Erik

Obama has divided our goverment. How would you reunite your peers and get both sides to work together as a unit?

February 22, 2012 09:45 pm at 9:45 pm |

heather

Libya did it without us. If Santorum ends up io office, we are going to war. Rommney/Paul will hand back Obama his own ass. And Newt (sleaze) would be a fine head of state.

February 22, 2012 09:46 pm at 9:46 pm |

William c

Why doesn't anyone ask about the bailout profits of CEO's and the banks that mitt and newt had interests in and why they got the biggest part of what the people had problems with?

February 22, 2012 09:46 pm at 9:46 pm |

Jae

In light of Santorum's radical religious views against birth control, and personal liberty, can't he find a lot of common ground with the so called "dangerous theocratic regime" of Iran?

February 22, 2012 09:46 pm at 9:46 pm |

Dan Lecian

All of you talk the talk, but when you get into office you do not deliver. Why should we believe you. It's only politics!!!!!!!!!!!!

February 22, 2012 09:46 pm at 9:46 pm |

Namecleve

Why are you avoiding Ron Paul
I See now what his supporters are complaining about. Give him the same time that you give others.

February 22, 2012 09:47 pm at 9:47 pm |

Nonegativeads

Question: If you win the 2012 Presidential election, could you see yourself winning a second term.

February 22, 2012 09:47 pm at 9:47 pm |

Erin H.

For all candidates,
It is apparent that you all are not accepting to President Obama's leadership thus far. Is their anything that you would consider positive to his governance of this country?

February 22, 2012 09:47 pm at 9:47 pm |

Steve

With firearms being sold to Mexico by the DEA in Arizona, one individual whom should be held accountable is Attorney General Eric Holder. Obama has been to Arizona numerous times with no visit to our borders respectively Yuma and Nogales. Who else should be held accountable regarding firearm selling to Mexico? Would you visit the border, and what role will you play directly in securing the border considering DHS Secretary Naplitano is from Arizona and looks the other way continually stating "the border has never been safer."

February 22, 2012 09:47 pm at 9:47 pm |

Roger Groover

For Congressman Ron Paul: Statistics show that nearly half of the illegals currently residing in the United States came here on a legal visa then simply never left when their time was up. Some applied for tourist visas for their families with the full intention of staying. How does your idea to make it easier for foreign citizens to visit do anything other than compound this problem?

February 22, 2012 09:47 pm at 9:47 pm |

Joshua Elek

Santorum, what's the difference between a Saudi king telling women what kind of clothes they can wear and a future American president telling women what kind of birth control they can use?

February 22, 2012 09:47 pm at 9:47 pm |

Abonga Oryem S Sudanese.

I am a S Sudanese living in Estevan Saskatchewan Canada. What is ur stand as far as Sudan and South Sudan Issues are concerned?

February 22, 2012 09:47 pm at 9:47 pm |

citizen y

RACE RELATIONS
can the moderater please ask mitt romney a question for me? as a african american person who is deeply spiritual.. he scares the living h.e. double hockey sticks out of me. the mormon doctrine litterally says that blacks/africans, have black skin because they are cursed due to a pre-earth war in heaven. in wich the blacks did not fight on the side of god. thus they were cursed with black skin and a lifetime of hardship and anguish, and whites on the contrary are born blessed, thus their pure white skin... and prviledge. my question is with a doctrine like that.... how could he or his party expect... any support from black america? do they want it?????????????????

February 22, 2012 09:48 pm at 9:48 pm |

Name adrienne king

Its so funny how republicans tout conservativism and christianity, yet they havent read their bible at all. where do they get off judging others. ALL politicians are as crooked a
nd hypocritical than their counterparts!

February 22, 2012 09:48 pm at 9:48 pm |

MATTHEW

All of these guys say smaller government? They want military to increase? All these guys are blanks!!

February 22, 2012 09:48 pm at 9:48 pm |

Mike

Can CNN post the video from the debate at 8:49pm about religious liberties and contraception? Romney flat out lied about helping Catholic Charities in Massachusetts get around having to broker adoptions to gay couples and he also flat out lied about how he pushed emergency contraception onto Catholic hospitals

February 22, 2012 09:48 pm at 9:48 pm |

Breedshill

Mr. Romney, if the U.S. congress were a Bain Portfolio Company how you would manage its turnaround from its current 10% approval rating to a 60+% approval rating; taking into account the actual number of days worked vis-à-vis Congress’s current salary levels, $1.5MM operational allowances/congressperson, pension plan, and medical & healthcare coverage….

February 22, 2012 09:48 pm at 9:48 pm |

Bob in San Jose, CA

The GOP seems ready to engage war in the Middle East. So what happened to Christian values? Jesus warned against those who would use His message for the wrong ends. I am now motivated to raise money for Obama.

February 22, 2012 09:48 pm at 9:48 pm |

Rukayat M.

#CNN final question
I am a 15 year old asking this question.
Tell me how you know Iraq has a nuclear weapon and why are you only specialized in Muslim "radicals" not christian "radicals".

February 22, 2012 09:48 pm at 9:48 pm |

lari bowling

Ron Paul just stated gas prices in Florida hit $6...where? No keeping it real I guess.

February 22, 2012 09:48 pm at 9:48 pm |

Aron Haas

Since health insurance is so expensive, some middle income Americans choose to be in the poor bracket rather then be faced with high health care costs. How will you give hope for middle income families?